The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-05-06
REFORMING STREET LOAFERS.
A Good Work Done in Washington De
scribed BY an Eye-Witness-

scribed by an Eyewitness.
"Don't see 'em on that corner now
days Looks sort of lonesome" said
big policeman, IS he stood on the corner
near the Washington circle.
50 What is it.? asked a Star reporter.
"WLv. the gang. he replied. ''Ihis
used to we the worst place IN the world,
right off there q little bit, he added,
pointing down toward the river.
Down that was FoEgv Bottom,
and the fellows from down that way
used to gather on the corners and loaf
at nights There was mon and boys
and fellows Of ali ages and manners,
who didn't have nothing to do alter
dark but TO loaf and roncoct mischief
and make work forthe police. Twas q
bad sort Of place, but you see now they
amt there.
"Weu that's Mr.. Barko- TIE lone
it-he and some other rautIo--rr, navy
men and men connected with the OBJ
servatocy down there. You know Mr.
Barker; he's the pastor of st. PauIs
Church. That clubs done 1t"
Following the oEi"er's direction. the
reporter found hisway mp q short flight
of stairs to a big room IN the second
story Of the building. The room was
brilliantly lighted. There was pool
table IN the middle Of the room, and a
lot ofsmall tables, covered with papers
and periodicals, were standing around.
Thirty or forty youths and men We're
assembled playing pool, reading at the
tables, playing checkers or chess, or IN
some other way amusing themselves
according to their wont.
They were mostly of that class of men
who are thrown upon their own re-
cr 1cf.l~- Il hove ~ f..a
the best living they can in the best way
they know how; men or youths, as the
case may be, whose work is generally
over at sundown, and who are III JEe
habit cf going on the streets for THEN
evening entertainment. Some Of them
were HevsbOys, some messengers, and
others We're men of various humble en-
Iloyments.
In a room in the story above were
probably sixty or seventy-iive boys not
vet old enough to be classed with the
men below, their ages running from u
to Is.
Tho reporter found the Rev. Mr. Bar
ker, who explained the purpose Of the
club.
1t is, he says, to take men and boys
of the streets and give tham a place
where they may find harmless and
helpful amusement of evenings. The
idea IL thatthe want Of something to do
and some good place to spend evenings
has led many young men and boys
astray, and the club is to prevent loaf
ing on the streets.
1t was organized Nov. 3 by some
gentlemen residing near Washington
circle, most of them members Of st.
PaulS Church, but there is no religious
feature to fHe club
It was opened as a free club on the
1G.h OF November, with twenty-five
members. They had then rented
house On Tweuty-fith street, but the
membership jumped up to forty at
once, and il became necessary to get
more roomy quarters, so on the Both
Of November they moved into their
present rooms.
The rooms were fitted mp, the upper
ones for the boys and the lower ones for
the men, and were thrown open to the
members Of the club every evening
from z o'clock until 10.
The boys room was furnished with q
bagateIle table and all sorts Of games,
and the mems with pool table, such
games as chess and checkers, and
great variety of reading matter.
The club is not intended to be sup
ported by the members, but 10y sub
scription by the public, bat to take
from 1t something of the air Of charity
and give each member some sort of
standing, cards are issued and a mem
bershIp fee of ten cents a month for
men and three cents for boys is
charged.
OF course, this is only a nominal fee
and would go only very little way
toward the support of the club, not
being enough to pay the gas bill.
The membership hasnow increased to
S5 men and l32 boys, and there is no
more lOafng on corners in this neigh
borhOOd. Once or twice a month en-
tertainments are given, to which the
members of the club are admitted
free.
In few days they expect to serve
hot coffee and crackers in the rooms at
the nominal price of one cent per
cup.
The interest taken in the club by
those it IS intended TO benefit is very
great. The average attendance every
night IS 70, and sometimes as many as
12O are in the rooms one night.
The amount Of good done the police
say, is something incalculabln. It has
taken from the streets the mischie-ous
element that keeps them busy, and has
converted them into peaceful. orderly,
and good citizens, who spend their
evenings IN pleasant way, where they
have everything for their comfort and
amusement, and have no temptation to
mischief
With all the crowd Of BOYS assembled
there, they have never had any disturb
ance, or disOrderly action of any kind
Washington Star.